I’m going to use a sports illustration today.
Everyone who knows me knows I’m a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. “You live in south Texas. Why not the Cowboys or the Texans?” is a question people often ask me as football season begins. The Eagles have been my team ever since I started watching football in fifth grade.
Last year, my team traded our star quarterback. Things hadn’t worked out as we all had hoped. Now, with his new team, he is facing an injury that may keep him from playing for a while. I’ve always wanted to see a professional sports contract. Just to see how detailed it is. I read that one of the details of his new contract has an impact on his old team.
The more he plays for his new team, the better chance the Eagles have at getting a better draft pick next year. So, his performance has bearing on two teams. I’m sure that can be stressful. I hope he has a few million ways to endure.
Now, let’s talk church.
People are sure the church wants your money. I don’t. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t have all the buildings and overheard expenses we do now. Things would be simple and more of our money would go to more kingdom work.
No, I don’t want your money. I don’t think God wants your money.
I want your gifts.
Yes, you’ve heard me repeat how much we need to be praying and studying scripture more together. I recall a sermon where I talked about the longest prayer meeting. It lasted one hundred years (the prayer meeting, not the sermon)! I thought that was going to be an inspiration for a few people to join in more corporate prayer. It wasn’t. So, yes, we need, need, need the church to pray more together.
After that, we need to be seeking our spiritual gifts. I don’t mean what you like to do or what you’re used to doing. Not what you think the church needs or even what you think will help the pastor. Your spiritual gifts don’t have to align with your profession or what someone signed you up for years ago.
First, recognize that the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to us all. There are several we read of in scripture. If you haven’t already, I’d begin to discover yours. Second, it’s important to understand these gifts are for the edification of the church. That’s why we need them. We can’t buy discipleship or growth. Our faithfulness comes from the church living into its calling as God’s people. If we’re praying and studying together, we’ll have a better idea of what we need to be doing for the purposes of God’s kingdom.
Like that star quarterback, a lot of what the church can do depends on what you do. And the church loses its chance to grow and serve by what you don’t do.
Stay blessed…john
